Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-27
THE CHICAGO LOCKOUT.
IMPORTANT ACTION TAKEN BY THE
EMPLOYERS.
Looking to Its Termination June 1.-The
Workmen to Sign Pledge Before
They will be Employed-But will
They Sign?

CHICAGO, May ia bold plan of cam
paign to settle the great building trades
lockout by June /, and to strike memoir
able blow at the trades unions was set
on foot here this afternoon. At confer
ence of delegates from every building in.
terest in Chicago with representatives
present from Illinois, the Architects as
ISOLATION, Chicago real estate board and
kindred bodies, the members of which
hire altogether probably $4,000 workmen
resolution was unanimously adopted
that from this time forth the signature of
the following card of principles by en-
ployes be made the universal condition of
employment by all the building interests
of Chicago:
II recognize the right of every man to de
eide for himself without dictation or nterfer-
ence when he shall work or cease to work,
where he shall work, for whom he shall work,
how many hours he shall work and for what
wages he shall work.
recognize the absolute right of the em-
ployer to decide for himself without inter-
ference from any source whom he shall en-
ploy, or cease to employ, to regulate and
manage his business with perfect lndcpcnd-
ence and freedom, provided only that he shall
deal lawfully, justly, and honoraby with all
men.
| recognize the right of every father to
have his son taught and OF every son to learn
to acquire knowledge of reading, writing or
any other branch of learning and they should
be subject to regulation only by the laws
of the land. l hereby pledge myself in all my
relations and intercourse with my employers
and fellow wordmen to maintain and live up
to these principles.
There was no debate on the adoption of
the measure. A general discussion sprang
up when it was proposed that the same
card of principles be presented for sigma.
ture to every employer with the pledge
thereto changed as follows
Il hereby pledge myself to maintain and
live up to these principles in the prosecution
of my business and to lend my aid to the full
extent of my influence ard power for their
maintenance aud protection among my fellow
employers. ! further pledge myself not to
employ any workman except upon his sigma
ture to this card of principles.
When it was stated that the pledge
meant the discharge of every workman
who did not sign the required card numer-
by the contracting plasterers, cor
penters and stone cutters who are
getting along peaceably with their men
and expecting no trouble. All the objec-
tons met with the reply that the card
contained nothing not guaranteed by the
constitution of the United States, and that
the country had got tired being shackled
by labor unions. At length a tacit under
standing was reached that the pledge be
voted upon by the delegates individually,
they then TO go to their associations and
urge its ratification. The pledge was there
upon adopted unanimously. June was
fixed upon rs the date when the lockout
should be declared off and business re-
sumed with the card of principles as the
basis.
The council will establish a committee
of safety whose province it shall be to see
that all protection is afforded. The funds
to meet the expenses will be raised by an
assessment of 25 cents on every member
of the many associations represented in to-
days conference and by public contribu-
tons to the cause.